Paulding County, Georgia requires an approved Private Dwelling Permit before a Building Permit for a new home in areas under county authority1. The county administers zoning and adopted construction codes, while incorporated municipalities may have their own requirements23. A home using septic also needs the applicable Environmental Health permit and inspection45.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required after the Private Dwelling Permit is approved1
- Zoning
- County zoning applies in areas under Paulding County authority2
- Septic permit
- Required when a dwelling will use septic4
- Owner-builder
- Available for work on the owner's own home; permits and codes still apply6
- Tiny home
- Local siting approval and applicable building codes are required7
- Minimum home size
- District-specific; reviewed text shows 1,100 sq. ft. in A-1 and 1,800 sq. ft. in R-389
- RV living
- Long-term occupancy is unconfirmed; ask Planning & Zoning about the parcel10
Who to call
Building permits
Paulding County Building & Permitting Division
Building, electrical, heating/air-conditioning and plumbing permits and inspections
240 Constitution Boulevard, First Floor, Dallas, GA 30132
Zoning
Paulding County Planning & Zoning Division
Zoning administration, land-use questions and zoning verification
240 Constitution Boulevard, Second Floor, Dallas, GA 30132
Septic permits
Paulding County Environmental Health
Local Environmental Health contact for septic and well review
240 Constitution Boulevard, Suite 1A, Dallas, GA 30132
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.
Do you need a building permit in Paulding County, Georgia?
Yes. A new private dwelling in an area under Paulding County authority needs department approvals on the Private Dwelling Permit before the county will issue the Building Permit1. The Building & Permitting Division administers adopted building, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and other codes3. For houses, the builder must request footing, framing/rough and final inspections; framing, plumbing, electrical and heating/air inspections are coordinated together11. A homeowner may perform work on their own home under the owner-builder exception, but county permits and codes still apply6. Incorporated municipalities may have different local requirements, so confirm the authority for the parcel1.
Who is the Paulding County building department, and how do you reach it?
Paulding County's Building & Permitting Division issues building, electrical, heating/air-conditioning and plumbing permits and conducts related inspections12. Permit technicians are available at 770-443-7571 or [email protected], and the office is at 240 Constitution Boulevard, First Floor, Dallas, GA 3013212. The division also answers technical questions about adopted codes12. Planning & Zoning is at the same street address on the second floor; call 770-443-7601 or email [email protected] for land-use and zoning-verification questions10. Start with Planning & Zoning when the proposed use or dwelling type is uncertain, then enter the dwelling and building permit process1013.
Does Paulding County have zoning?
Yes. Paulding County administers zoning in areas under county authority, while incorporated municipalities may administer their own rules2. Reviewed county material lists a minimum heated living area of 1,100 square feet in A-1 and 1,800 square feet in R-3, but the cited zoning document is labeled as a draft and current applicability must be confirmed89. Setbacks vary by district and corner-lot status14. Manufactured homes and doublewides cannot be placed in platted subdivisions and must sit on a solid foundation15. Ask Planning & Zoning to verify the parcel's jurisdiction, district and current adopted standards before relying on a size or setback10.
How do septic permits work in Paulding County?
A Paulding County dwelling using septic needs a septic permit when applicable, and the published process routes Environmental Health approval through the Private Dwelling Permit413. Paulding County Environmental Health is at 240 Constitution Boulevard, Suite 1A, Dallas, GA 30132 and can be reached at 770-443-787716. Georgia sets statewide onsite-sewage rules while County Boards of Health handle local permits and inspections17. A construction permit is valid for no more than 12 months, and the system needs written final approval before backfilling or use1819. About 38% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so obtain a parcel-specific site evaluation20.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Paulding County?
The reviewed materials do not confirm whether Paulding County allows or prohibits long-term occupancy of one RV on private land, and temporary camping also remains unresolved. Ask Planning & Zoning about the exact parcel, duration and utility setup before buying or moving an RV onto the site10. A site-built or modular tiny home used as a dwelling must comply with applicable Georgia building codes and obtain local siting approval; local zoning controls land use, foundation type and minimum building or lot size7. The reviewed county materials do not establish a specific tiny-home occupancy rule, and district minimum dwelling sizes may determine feasibility89. Manufactured homes follow separate Georgia installation rules and Paulding County siting limits2115.
Building a home in Paulding County: the steps, in order
- Confirm whether Paulding County or a municipality governs the parcel, then have Planning & Zoning verify the district, use, size and setbacks210.
- Prepare the Private Dwelling Permit, whose approvals include zoning, taxes, addressing/GIS, Environmental Health, development review and water-system review when applicable13.
- If using septic, obtain the applicable permit and inspection through Environmental Health45.
- After the dwelling approvals, obtain the Building Permit and post it before requesting inspections13.
- Request footing, framing/rough and final inspections as work progresses11.
- Complete final septic approval where applicable and all county finals; applicable construction requires a certificate of occupancy522.
What should you check before buying land in Paulding County?
Verify jurisdiction and zoning first, because district standards control dwelling size and setbacks, and city rules may differ214. If the parcel needs septic, arrange a site evaluation before closing: about 38% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field20. Confirm whether the site will use county water and sewer or a well and septic system because the approval path changes with utility setup23. Ask about floodplain status; a parcel in a special flood hazard area needs a finished-construction elevation certificate before the certificate of occupancy22. A driveway onto a state highway requires an application through the appropriate GDOT district office24. Qualifying agricultural or timber property may receive conservation-use assessment at 40% of current-use value under a 10-year covenant25.
Watch-outs
- The minimum-size and setback source is titled as a draft, so confirm the currently adopted standard before designing a home81410.
- Long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, accessory dwellings, lot coverage and short-term rentals remain unconfirmed; ask Planning & Zoning for a parcel-specific answer10.
- A special-flood-hazard parcel requires elevation documentation before the certificate of occupancy22.
Sources
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Planning & Zoning Division, quoted and re-checked
- Building & Permitting Division, quoted and re-checked
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Building & Permitting FAQs, quoted and re-checked
- Georgia Tiny House Fact Sheet (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Title 2: Zoning, quoted and re-checked
- Title 2: Zoning, quoted and re-checked
- Paulding County Planning & Zoning Division (paulding.gov)
- Building & Permitting Division, quoted and re-checked
- Paulding County Building & Permitting Division (paulding.gov)
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Title 2: Zoning, quoted and re-checked
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Paulding County Environmental Health (paulding.gov)
- Onsite Sewage (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Manufactured Housing (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Private Dwelling Permit, quoted and re-checked
- Regulations for Driveway & Encroachment Control Manual (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Conservation Use Land Values (Georgia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.